Stocking dryer and stretcher



Feb. 28, 1956 w. w. MCLEAN 2,736,473

STOCKING DRYER AND STRETCHER Filed NOV. 27, 1953 INVENTOR United States Patent "ice 2,736,473 STOCKING DRYER AND STRETCHER Wayne William McLean, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application November 2?, 1953, Serial No. 394,790 2 Claims; 01. 223 75 This invention relates to stocking dryer-stretchers and involves the embodiment of new and useful features into frames of the art with resulting improvements therein.

In a consideration of the use of stocking dryer-stretchers hereinafter referred to, at times, as stocking stretchers or stretchers, it is not uncommon for a housewife to have say seven pairs of stockings, of the same size, on the clothes-line at one time. When stretchers are used throughout which, generally, is not common because of the very nature of present stretchers in the art, then fourteen frames are required, whether adjustable or nonadjustable stretchers are used, unless of course, the user exercises utility and applies two stockings, one over the other, on the frame.

When stockings of a different size are in question, then, in the case of non-adjustable stretchers, fourteen additional frames are required, making a total of twentyeight frames that are theoretically necessary, a prohibitive bulk indeed.

When, on the other hand, adjustable stretchers are used, and the diverse sized stockings are within the range of adjustment, then the original seven pairs, or fourteen frames, must be adjusted and it can be appreciated that to do so is no small task. Moreover, adjustable stretchers are often difficultly operable and some can be rendered in operable if due caution is not taken.

Present adjustable stretchers in the art have a range of length adjustment of four full sizes, and since the width of the foot member is constant, the elongation to the larger sizes and more especially to the largest sizes, gives a length of foot far out of proportion to the width of the foot. Further, since a stocking applied to a frame is double in respect to width, any resulting width shrinking will be doubled in respect to its circumference. On the application of such a shrunken stocking to the foot, lateral resistance must be overcome along all sections of the stocking length. Regarding a frame length disparity, however, any resultant shrinkage is not so doubled and the resistance is offered at one stage only.

In this art, foot width is a critical factor and since present adjustable stretchers can be deficient by a maximum of three full sizes in respect to width, their utility is deceptive. It would be a considerable improvement in multi-size stocking stretchers to eliminate or at least to mitigate the disparity between length and width sizes and that could be achieved by incorporating into the frames the salient feature of this invention. However, it would be ideal if the adjustment problem could be eliminated altogether. To eliminate the adjustment problem, yet provide a multi-size stocking stretcher, one might assume that a compromise is in order; notwithstanding, one can easily prove, providing the width is normal, that a stocking which appears to be /2 size larger or smaller than the foot itself, will present no obstacle in applying that stocking to the foot. Moreover, housewives do not, indeed they cannot, differentiate between /2 sizes in length.

In further reference to present adjustable stretchers and considering that they can be deficient by a maximum of 2,736,473 Patented Feb. 28-, 1956 2 three full sizes in respect to width, it can be granted that much more favourable results would be obtained if normal foot widths were provided with the corresponding normal foot lengths, or normal widths with lengths that did not differ, either larger or smaller, by more than /2 size.

it is therefore, among the objects of this invention, to provide a multi-size stocking stretcher which requires no adjustment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a multisize stocking stretcher with foot widths proportional to foot lengths.

It is another object of this invention to provide a frame over which at least two stockings of different sizes can be applied simultaneously.

It is a further object to provide an economical, simple but practical stocking stretcher.

The basis of this invention involves the elimination of the conventional and heretofore seemingly indispensable and mono-purpose leg members of stocking stretchers in the prior art and in place of it, the embodiment of the novel feature of yet another foot member so that there will be two foot members in the same frame.

In the classical embodiment of this invention, a diversity in the members of 1 /2 sizes is recommended and each foot member, whatever its length, will have its normal and standard width. Considering a frame on this invention, with corporate foot members of 9 and 10%.; since the widths are correct, the importance of which has been related in the above, then it can be granted that stockings of sizes 8 /2, 9 and 9 /2 can be applied to the size 9 foot end and that stockings of sizes 10, 10%. and 11 can be applied to the size 10% foot end. The two members in the frame, then, are able to cover the range 8 /2 to 11 and a housewife would thus be provided with a frame which is not only multi-size but one which requires no adjustment and, moreover, one over which stockings of different sizes can be applied simultaneously.

This invention incorporates clothes-line securing means at the ends of the frame, but each is within the contour of its foot member, actually forming a part of the periphery of the foot member. The appendage will serve a purpose for those who desire it, but, of course, their use is precluded by the application of a stocking from both ends of the frame.

To observe the above indicated features of this invention and other details thereof, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the plastic type of stocking stretcher embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the wire type stretcher embodying cooperating foot members and showing clothes-line securing appendages therein.

Referring to the drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1 and 2 are the corporate foot members with the common heel 3 and arches 4 and 5.

The clothes-line depending means 6 is formed by an ingress 7' in the frame, the sizes of the opening being slightly champfered at 8 and 9. The ingress 7 is just sufiiciently wide to permit entrance of a clothes-line wire and the channel continues inwardly and substantially upwardly and terminates in a recess 16 which retains the wire from which the frame can be suspended.

The plastic type represented by Fig. l incorporates frame strengthening ribs 11 and 12. Rib 11 serves to provide strength along the length of the frame and minimizes bending when stockings are applied to the frame. Rib 12 has superficial transverse ribs 13, 14 and 15 which, together with substantial fillets at connecting points of the main ribs, provide additional strength to minimize torsional bending and more particularly bending along the length of the frame. The inner and outer edges of 3 both the main frame and ribs have superficial moulding as at 16 to enhance frame strength. The product is produced by injection moulding.

The wire type represented by Fig. 2, being quite simple, can be produced by any suitable means. The embodiment in Fig. 2 is made in two parts, assembled and welded on the underside of the appendage 6.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a stocking dryer and stretcher frame, the combination of two jointly angularly disposed members, coincident and co-operative medially of the frame, the periphery of each of said members substantially defining the outline of a foot member of a flattened stocking; alternate means for depending the frame, each such means comprising an arcuate appendage formed by a peripheral ingress near the distal end of each said member, said ingress continuing inwardly and substantially 4 upwardly toward the distal end proper, each said means being entirely contained within the contour of its foot member and the extrados of each appendage forming the periphery of the toe portion thereof.

2. In a stocking dryer and stretcher frame, a frame as described in claim 1; and interiorly of said frame, a first frame strengthening rib, said rib being incurvate and conmeeting the arches of the foot members; a second transverse rib connected medially to the first said rib and to the arcuate portion of the frame opposite the common heel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,602,078 Knox Oct. 5, 1926 1,616,510 Roach Feb. 8, 1927 2,400,203 Kerbawy May 14, 1946 

